United States Environmental Protection Agency - Criminal Investigations Division, U.S. Government
End of Watch: Friday, October 28, 1988
Age: 38
Tour of Duty: 16 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: October 27, 1988
Weapon Used: Handgun; .38 caliber
Suspect Info: Died on death row
Agent David DeLitta was shot and killed as he and a co-worker were being robbed when they arrived at a restaurant at 8225 Gulf Freeway in Houston, Texas. The two agents had just served a subpoena and were meeting other agents for dinner.
As the two agents walked into the restaurant, they were confronted by an armed man who demanded the agents place their wallets on the hood of their car. Agent DeLitta attempted to retrieve his duty weapon from his ankle holster as the man began shooting. The subject's last round penetrated Agent Delitta's arm and entered his abdomen. He was transported to a local hospital where he remained in surgery for approximately 30 hours before succumbing to the wound.
The subject fled the scene but turned himself in through a local television station one month later. He was convicted of state charges of capital murder and on federal charges of murdering a federal agent. He was sentenced to death but died in prison while on death row.
After the man had been taken into custody the gun used to murder Agent DeLitta was used in another murder.
Agent DeLitta had served in law enforcement for 16 years. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War. His law enforcement career included clerking for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as an officer for the Tampa Police Department and the Greeley Police Department, and as a Drug Enforcement Administration undercover special agent. He had only served with the EPA for four months when he was murdered. He is survived by his wife, son, daughter, parents, brother, and sister.